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New evidence of liquid water on Mars

Are we moving closer to discovering extra-terrestrial life? Scientists have uncovered what they believe to be a lake of liquid water on Mars.

Researchers have found evidence of what they believe to be a liquid lake of water on Mars, measuring about 20km (12 miles) across. The lake sits under the planet’s southern polar ice cap. Salts in the lake are believed to have kept the water from freeing over, despite having an estimated temperature as low as -68 degrees Celsius (-90 Fahrenheit).

The discovery was made using Marsis, a radar instrument on board the European Space Agency’s Mars express orbiter. Liquid water is an essential requirement for life as we understand it and Professor Roberto Orosei, from the University of Bologna, commented that “it’s tempting to think that this is the first candidate place where life could persist [on Mars]”.